chapter 7

RulesRules andand EquipmentEquipment

This is where we’ll introduce you to some of the basic rules of base- ball. We won’t try to cover all the rules of the game, but rather will give you what you need to work with players who are 8 to 14 years old. We’ll give you information on terminology, equipment, field size and markings, player positions, and game procedures. We recommend you use these rules, many of which have been modified from the adult ver- sion of the game to make the sport more appropriate for youngsters. In a short section at the end of the chapter we’ll show you the officiating signals for .

65 66 Coaching Youth Baseball

Terms to Know

Baseball has its own vocabulary. Being familiar with common terms will make your job easier. In some cases we go into more depth on terms to explain related rules. —An illegal motion by the pitcher resulting in runners advancing one base. ball—A that the batter doesn’t swing at and that is outside of the . baserunner—An offensive player who is either on base or attempting to reach a base. batter’s box—Rectangles on either side of home plate designating the area in which a batter must stand. rules—A batter cannot leave the batter’s box once the pitcher becomes set or begins the windup. Both feet must be inside the batter’s box (the lines are part of the box). If the batter hits the ball—either fair or foul—with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside of the box, the batter is automatically . Also, a batter may request time, but the umpire does not have to grant the request. If a batter refuses to take position in the batter’s box, the umpire will order the pitcher to pitch and call each pitch a strike, no matter the location. —A method of hitting accomplished by holding the bat so that the pitch is softly, traveling several feet in front of home plate or down the first- or third-base line. Players can bunt for base hits or to ad- vance a runner into . Batters attempting to bunt on the third strike are out if the ball is picked up in foul territory. This play is considered a . choking up—Moving the hands up the bat handle to increase bat control. —The number of balls and strikes on a hitter. crow hop—Use of the body and arm in a throwing motion that gener- ates maximum velocity on the ball. defensive —The baseline belongs to the runner. A fielder not in the act of fielding cannot block the path of the runner between any bases. In such a case the ball is dead and the runner is awarded the base he or she would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, had he or she not been obstructed. —A hit that allows the batter to reach second base safely. —A defensive play that results in putting two players out. Rules and Equipment 67

dropped third strike—If first base is unoccupied, or if it is occupied with two out, and the catcher drops a third strike, the defensive team must put out the batter by either throwing to first before the batter reaches the base or by tagging the batter with the ball before he or she reaches first. —A defensive mistake that enables a runner to advance or reach a base safely that the player would otherwise have been unable to ad- vance to or would have been put out before reaching. fair territory—The area of the playing field between (and including) the foul lines. fielder’s choice—A situation that allows a batter to reach a base safely because a fielder decides to put out a different baserunner. fly ball—A hit that sails high into the air; also known as a pop fly. fly-out—A fly ball that is caught, resulting in the batter being put out. —Occurs when a runner is forced to advance to the next base because the batter becomes a runner and the preceding base is occu- pied. On a ground ball, runners are forced to in these situations: first base occupied; first and second occupied; first, second, and third occupied; first and third occupied (only the runner on first is forced to run). On force plays, the defender needs to touch the base while in possession of the ball before the runner reaches the base to record an out. An out resulting from a force play is called a force-out. —Any ball hit into foul territory. Note, though, that a ground ball that is fair as it passes first or third base and then rolls into foul territory is a fair ball. foul line—Either of the two straight lines extending at right angles from the rear of home plate through the outer edges of first and third bases to the boundary. A that lands on a foul line is considered to have landed in fair territory. foul territory—The area of the playing field that lies beyond the foul lines. —A ball that is tipped by the batter and either caught or dropped by the catcher. With two strikes on the batter, a foul tip must be caught by the catcher for an out (a strikeout) to be recorded; otherwise the batter may still bat. ground ball—A hit that bounces or rolls along the ground; also known as a grounder. ground-out—A ground ball that is fielded by an infielder, resulting in the batter being put out at first base. hit by a pitch—A batter is awarded first base for being hit by a pitch. 68 Coaching Youth Baseball

—A home run is recorded when a batter hits a fair ball over the fence or circles the bases on an inside-the-park hit without being thrown out. —The part of the playing field enclosed by the three bases and home plate. —This rule prohibits a player from intentionally dropping a fair fly ball that can be caught in the infield with normal effort. This rule is in effect with runners on first and second, or first, second, and third, with less than two outs. When an umpire calls an infield fly rule, the batter is automatically out and runners may advance at their risk. —A division of a game that consists of each team having a turn . offensive interference—A runner is out if he or she intentionally inter- feres with a thrown ball, hinders a fielder from making a play on a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a fielder or the ball in trying to break up a double play. In this case both the runner and the batter are out. out—An out can be recorded in a variety of ways, including strikeout, force-out, tag-out, and fly-out. outfield—The part of the playing field outside the infield and between the foul lines. overthrow—When a base is overthrown and the ball goes out of play (such as over a fence or in a ), runners are awarded the next base. —A pitch not hit by the batter that passes the catcher and should have been caught (see ). Typically passed balls pass the catcher in the air before bouncing. To be a passed ball, a baserunner must advance on the play. pitching rules—With a runner or runners on base, once a pitcher be- gins his or her motion to home he or she must throw or be called for a balk. With the bases empty, a pitcher has 20 seconds to pitch or the umpire will automatically call a ball. A ball is also called when the pitcher brings his or her pitching hand into contact with his or her mouth or lips while on the mound (exceptions may be made in cold weather); for applying a foreign substance to the ball; for spitting on the ball, either hand, or the glove; and for rubbing the ball on the glove, body, or clothing. The pitcher may rub the ball in his or her bare hands. Pitchers cannot intentionally throw at a batter. A man- ager or coach may make two trips to the mound during an inning to talk to the pitcher; on the second trip, the pitcher must be removed. Rules and Equipment 69

put-out—A batter/runner or baserunner is called out (such as with a force-out or tag-out). run—The basic unit of scoring that is credited each time a baserunner advances safely to home plate. (RBI)—A run that is driven in by a batter. running out of the baseline—A runner is out when she or he runs out of the baseline, which is more than three feet away from a direct line between the bases, unless she or he is doing so to avoid interfering with a fielder fielding a batted ball. running past first base—Runners are entitled to run past first base with- out risking being tagged out. They give up this right if they turn toward second base, however. Once they turn toward second, they can be tagged out. —A bunt that results in the batter being put out, though the baserunner(s) advance(s). —A fly-out that results in a run being scored. scoring position—Second or third base, from which a baserunner could score on a base hit. —A hit that allows the batter to reach first base safely. —With a runner on third base the batter bunts to allow the runner to safely score. strike—A pitch that the batter takes (doesn’t swing at) in the strike zone; that the batter swings at and misses; or that the batter hits into foul territory. strikeout—A batter being put out as the result of hav- ing a third strike. strike zone—The area over home plate through which a pitch must pass to be called a strike, between the top of the knees and the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the pants (see Figure 7.1 The strike zone. figure 7.1). 70 Coaching Youth Baseball

tag play—Occurs when a runner is not forced to advance (see force play). When a runner is not forced to advance, such as with a runner on second, the runner must be tagged out (touched with the ball, which can be in a fielder’s glove or bare hand) when the runner is not touch- ing a base. —The action of a baserunner making contact with a base after a fly ball has been caught, with the intention of advancing to the next base. A runner cannot advance to the next base on a caught fly ball until the fly ball is caught. —A hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely. —A defensive play that results in putting three players out. walk—A batter advancing to first base as the result of having a fourth ball. Also called a . wild pitch—A pitch not hit by the batter that passes the catcher and could not have been caught (see passed ball). Typically wild pitches are those that are in the dirt before they pass the catcher. To be con- sidered a wild pitch, a baserunner must advance on the play. Rule Modifications

Table 7.1 contains our recommendations for modifying a variety of rules for baseball, including field dimensions, played, type of ball used, pitching restrictions, and so on. Field

Baseball is played on a diamond-shaped field, with home plate and first, second, and third bases forming the corners (see figure 7.2). Foul lines run from home to first base and home to third base and extend beyond those bases to the outfield fence. The area inside the foul lines, including the lines, is fair territory; anything outside the lines is foul. Fair territory around the base portion of the field is called the infield. Fair territory in the grassy portion of the field farther from the plate is called the outfield. Equipment

You’re probably aware of most standard pieces of equipment: bases, balls, bats, gloves, helmets, and other appropriate apparel. But do you know how to tell when this equipment meets proper specifications and is in good repair? Here are some tips. Table 7.1 Rule Modifications for Baseball 8- to 9- 10- to 11- 12- to 14- Item year-olds year-olds year-olds

Players on field per team 9 9 9 Players on team 15 15 15 Basepaths 60 ft 70 ft 80 ft Pitching distance 44 ft 48 ft 54 ft Fence (down the lines) 175 ft 225 ft 265 ft Fence (to center field) 225 ft 275 ft 315 ft Ball Safety ball Regulation ball Regulation ball Pitcher Coach Player Player Pitching restrictions None 6 innings 7 innings per game; per game; 10 per week 10 per week Innings 6 6 7 10-run rule Yes (after Yes (after Yes (after 4 innings) 4 innings) 5 innings) Leadoffs No Yes Yes Steals No Yes Yes No No No

Outfield

3rd-base foul line 2nd base

Infield 3rd base 1st base 1st-base foul line Pitching Foul Foul rubber territory territory Home plate

Figure 7.2 The playing field.

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Bases Be sure that your organization uses breakaway bases. Because as many as 70 percent of baseball injuries occur when players , you owe it to youngsters to make the bases as as possible. Balls

1 A standard-size baseball is 9 to 9 ⁄4 inches in circumference and weighs 1 5 to 5 ⁄2 ounces. The stitching connecting the two panels of cowhide or horsehide protrudes just enough to allow a player to grip the ball tightly with the fingers. Softer, rubber-coated balls are recommended for 8- and 9-year-olds. Using these balls helps prevent players from developing a fear of hit- ting or catching a ball. Such a fear can impede their skill development. Bats The bat is divided into three parts: the knob, the handle, and the barrel (figure 7.3). Bats must be all wood or all aluminum. Rubber sheaths are

Figure 7.3 Parts of the bat.

permitted on aluminum bat knobs and handles to improve the grip. Legal aluminum bats are made of one piece, and some have a plug in the barrel end. The bat should be 29 to 31 inches long for smaller players; bigger players might use a bat from 32 to 34 inches long. A bat with a large hitting end tapering down to a small handle gives the greatest —that is, the greatest area with which to make solid hits. The handle of the bat should be thin enough that the player can easily grip both hands around it. After that, it’s up to the players’ personal prefer- ences what bat they feel most comfortable using. Gloves No piece of equipment will become more dear to your players than their gloves. Help your players select proper-fitting gloves. It’s better to start with a smaller glove than an oversized one. A mitt that has a Rules and Equipment 73

huge pocket and is much bigger than a youngster’s hand will be hard to con- trol and could hinder skill develop- ment. Breaking in, or conditioning, a glove will help create a good pocket and make the glove strong and flexible. Players can rub some hot water or saddle soap into the centers of their gloves, stuff a couple of or a large wad of crumpled newspaper into the pockets, and then use shoelaces to tie the gloves (as shown in figure 7.4). Leaving the mitts like this for several Figure 7.4 Use shoelaces to days will create good, round pockets. help break in your glove. Well-conditioned gloves will improve your players’ ability to field and hold onto the ball. Apparel Your players must wear helmets while batting and running the bases. An on-deck player (the player who will be hitting next) must also wear a helmet, as should players serving as base coaches. We recommend hel- mets certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), with double flaps. Check to make sure your players’ helmets fit and that the condition of each helmet is good. Players should also wear baseball shoes with rubber cleats. Double- tying the laces of the shoes will prevent them from coming untied, which can cause a player to trip. Players should wear caps to keep hair and sun out of their eyes. Some positions require special equipment. The catcher will need a face mask, helmet, throat guard, chest protector, and shin guards. You should encourage all male players, but particularly the catcher, pitcher, and third-base player, to wear a protective cup. Don’t allow players to wear jewelry, watches, or other metal objects during practice and games. This helps prevent injury.

Player Positions

Baseball is played with 9 players in the field on defense. Busiest of the defensive players are the pitcher and catcher, known as the battery. 74 Coaching Youth Baseball

Infielders, who handle ground balls and pop-ups on the dirt portion of the field, include the first-base player, second-base player, shortstop, and third-base player. The outfielders are the right fielder, center fielder, and left fielder. Figure 7.5 illustrates the nine defensive positions.

CF (8) LF RF (7) (9)

SS 2B (6) (4) 3B 1B (5) P (3) (1)

C (2) Figure 7.5 Player positions.

One of your biggest coaching decisions involves answering the ques- tion: Who should play which position? Here are some tips to help you choose wisely:

ᶀ Set your lineup to maximize your players’ strengths and interests. ᶀ Put your best defensive players “up the middle” at catcher, pitcher, middle infielders (second base and shortstop), and center fielder. ᶀ Give your players experience at a variety of positions throughout the season to expand their skills and understanding of the game. You might be surprised when a player exhibits skills at one position that were not evident at a previous defensive spot.

The following specific suggestions should help you determine where on the field each player should play. Included with each position is the number associated with it. ᶀ Pitcher (1)—Arm strength or velocity is an indication that a player may make a successful pitcher. A solid mental and emotional makeup will also make a pitcher effective, because a pitcher must stay poised throughout the game. Your pitcher should be a smart, tough, and con- fident competitor who will rise to the occasion when confronting a chal- lenge. The player must be able to throw strikes; control is the number one priority. Spend a lot of time with your pitchers. Rules and Equipment 75

ᶀ Catcher (2)—The catcher is the team’s “quarterback.” All the ac- tion takes place in front of this player. Good catchers are rugged indi- viduals, and if they are not big and strong, then they must be tough. The position requires strength, endurance, and great hand-eye coordi- nation. The catcher is up and down from a squat position on every pitch, throwing balls back to the pitcher or infielders, backing up first base on ground balls when other runners aren’t on base, and chasing short foul balls. The catcher must field the position, throw the ball, and lead the team. ᶀ First base (3)—The ability to all types of thrown balls is es- sential for a first-base player. Size, powerful hitting, speed, grace of movement, good fielding of ground balls, and good judgment of in- field flies are other qualities of a good first-base player. The first-base player makes more unusual plays than any other position. A strong and accurate arm is a bonus at this position. ᶀ Second base (4)—Players of all different statures have become ex- cellent second sackers. Whether big or little, however, a second-base player must have a sure pair of hands to field ground balls, pop flies, and thrown balls. Moreover, a second-base player must be able to fore- see fielding situations and act instantly. ᶀ Third base (5)—The third-base player must possess agility, good hands, and quick reflexes. This player must be able to come in fast on the ball and throw accurately while running at top speed. She or he must be able to make off-balance throws and bare-handed pickups on bunts and slowly hit balls. The third-base player must have a strong arm to make the long throws to first base. ᶀ Shortstop (6)—A shortstop must be alert, be able to start and stop quickly, possess a sure pair of hands, and, above all, have a strong throw- ing arm. This player must also have quick reactions. The shortstop will be required to make more tough plays than any other player on the field. ᶀ Left field (7)—The left fielder can have less speed and a weaker arm than any other outfielder because many of the throws do not cover a great distance. However, this player must still be alert, have a good arm to the plate, and be a good fielder of ground balls. The left fielder backs up third base whenever necessary. ᶀ Center fielder (8)—This player usually has the best speed of the outfielders and must have a strong arm. The center fielder covers more territory than any other player and will make the greatest percentage of outfield put-outs. The center fielder backs up at second base on all sacrifice bunts and every attempted put-out at second. 76 Coaching Youth Baseball

ᶀ Right field (9)—The right fielder must have a strong, accurate throwing arm. This player backs up first base on all bunted balls, all throws from the catcher to first base, and all plays when there is a pos- sibility of the ball’s coming into right field, such as on a wild throw. The right fielder also backs up at second base on all balls hit to the left side of the diamond.

Baseball Game Procedures

Knowledge of the basic rules and procedures of baseball will ensure that the game runs smoothly. Be aware of any special rules for the play- ing field or boundaries. Here are some elements common to baseball games: ᶀ Home team (the team that bats second) usually is predetermined by league officials; if it has not been, flip a coin to determine the home team. ᶀ A game is divided into innings. Each team gets one turn at bat per inning. See table 7.1 for our recommendations for number of innings played at each age level. ᶀ The must be followed throughout the game unless a player is substituted for another. Substitutes must take the same place in the batting order as the replaced player. ᶀ Each batter is allowed a maximum of three strikes or four balls (upon the fourth ball, the batter is awarded first base). ᶀ A batter who, in hitting the ball, avoids making an out and safely reaches first base has a hit (or has reached base on a fielder’s error). The player may try to advance to another base. ᶀ A batter makes an out by striking out (three strikes), grounding out (the ball touches the ground before being caught and is thrown to first base before the batter arrives), or flying out (the ball is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground). ᶀ A run is scored if an offensive player reaches first, second, and third bases and home plate without being tagged out or forced out (a defensive player with the ball touches the base before the runner arrives, and the runner cannot retreat to the previous base because a teammate is already advancing there). The offensive player can overrun (run past) first base without being able to be tagged out. ᶀ With the third out, a team’s turn at bat ends. That team takes the field, and the opposing team bats. Rules and Equipment 77

ᶀ The team with the most runs at the end of the game is the winner. ᶀ are played to determine the winner if a game is tied at the end of regulation play. Keeping Score

Using a scorebook is easy once you know the numbering system (see “Player Positions” on pages 73-76) and a few abbreviations. AB—Times at bat K—Strikeout B—Bunt Kc—Called third strike BB—Base on balls; walk L—Line drive BK—Balk O—Out DP—Double play OS—Out stealing E—Error PB—Passed ball F—Foul fly R—Run FC—Fielder’s choice RBI—Run batted in FO—Fly-out SH—Sacrifice G—Ground ball (unassisted infield out) SB— H—Hit TP—Triple play HBP— WP—Wild pitch IW—Intentional walk Every time a batter goes to the plate, use the numbers to indicate how the player was retired or reached base. For instance, the batter who grounds to the shortstop and is thrown out at first base is scored 6-3 in your scorebook (see figure 7.6a). If he or she flies to the right fielder, use FO-9 (see figure 7.6b). If the batter fouls out to the right fielder, use 9F. If a batter reaches first base on an error made by the second-base player, steals second, goes to third on a wild pitch, and scores on a passed ball, your scorebook would look like figure 7.7. Umpires

Umpires are officials who enforce the rules of the game. At this level, games usually have two umpires—one at home plate and another positioned according to the number of baserunners and bases they occupy. Before the game, the home plate umpire meets with both coaches to exchange their lineups. Umpires decide whether a pitch is a ball or 78 Coaching Youth Baseball

8 HR 8 HR 3B 3B 7 9 7 9 2B FO-9 2B 1B 1B 6 4 6 4 531 SAC 531 SAC 6-3 HP HP 1 2 2 BB 2 BB ab Figure 7.6 Scorebook samples.

8 HR 3B 7 9 2B WP SB 1B 6 4 531 SAC PB E4 HP 2 BB

Figure 7.7 Another scorebook sample. strike, a hit is fair or foul, and if a runner is safe or out. The home plate umpire is the ultimate decision-maker on any ruling. Like you, umpires are volunteers, not professionals. Consequently, from time to time they will make mistakes. How you react when you think an umpire has erred is important. Be a good role model for your players. If you think a rule was not properly enforced, calmly call time- out and discuss it with the umpire. Don’t mutter about the call in the dugout or interrupt the game by arguing. Remember, you are not allowed to contest judgment calls (ball/strike, safe/out, fair/foul), only rule interpretations. See figure 7.8 a-f for common umpires’ signals. ab

cd

ef

Figure 7.8 Some signals commonly used by umpires are (a) time-out, (b) strike, (c) out, (d) safe, (e) foul, and (f) fair.

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